Books

Here is my take on a few recent reads. Please add your take on these books and any others that you loved, liked or loathed.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards (401 pages; published 2005)
This was an impulse airport purchase. I fell for the obvious publisher's trap of naming this lesser book in the same manner as the exceptional Chicagoan-authored The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger. In short, skip this book unless you have loads of extra time.

Set in the mid 60s, it chronicles an uptight doctor and his young bride's journey with pregnancy, childbirth, and life thereafter. Mrs. Uptight Doctor delivers twins in an emergency delivery, but is unaware in her drugged state. One twin, the son, makes the grade. A little girl with Downs is sent off with the loyal attending nurse to deposit in a state-run home. The nurse turns out to be loyal to the Doctor, but not always obedient.

The core of the story seemed to have potential, but the main Doctor character takes far too long to redeem himself in any way, and his deep-seeded reasons for being a cold perfectionist don't quite add up. Some of the character development is impressive and unexpected, but other key characters are cliche and uninteresting (like the twin son). I found myself reading very fast to finish the book, and the conclusion was only partially satisfying.

Grade: C-



Kindred
by Octavia Butler (Published 1979; 264 pages)
This is my favorite book. I read it first sophomore year of college and have re-read it several times since; not yet has another booked knocked this out of #1. It involves time travel, history, drama, and a strong central female character, Dana.

It is 1976 and Dana is settling into both her new Southern California home and her interracial marriage to a white man named Kevin when history yanks Dana back in time to the antebellum South. One of her ancestors has the ability to call Dana to him when he is in danger, forcing her to live for periods of time as a plantation slave. The plot seems shaky, but Butler (R.I.P.) executed it with power and grace. You become very connected to Dana, feeling her triumph and terror and - somewhat uncomfortably - rooting for her to exact brutal revenge at times. You will read this book in 3 days tops.

Butler's female characters are always impressive, strong, smart and human. If you have never tried science fiction, Butler is a great bridge and Kindred would be the perfect first.

Grade: A